(indieWIRE: 01.25.02) — 23 films will compete at the 52nd BerlinInternational Film Festival, running Feb. 6-17. The line-up — the firstoverseen by new festival director Dieter Kosslick — includes an assortmentof mainstream Hollywood titles, international entries and German films.

The U.S. will be represented by Wes Anderson’s “The Royal Tenenbaums,” MarcFoster’s “Monster’s Ball” and Lasse Hallstrom’s “The Shipping News.” Special screenings include Alexander Kluge’s “Die Patriotin” (The Patriot) and a new director’s cut of Milos Forman’s “Amadeus.” Closing night will feature ascreening of Charlie Chaplin‘s “The Great Dictator.” In an announcementyesterday, festival organizers called the Chaplin classic “a potent political statement against racism, the lust for power and war.” [Eugene Hernandez]

(indieWIRE: 01.25.02) — Leave it to Lot 47‘s Lipskys (Jeff, Scott and Mark), to come up with some of the creative marketing ploys these days. The indie distribution outlet is backing one of New York’s newest performancespaces in an effort to promote the release of “Scotland, PA,” a comedicadaptation of Shakespeare‘s “Macbeth.” The film, due for release on Feb. 8,stars Maura Tierney, James LeGros and Christopher Walken.

McBeth’s, located at 25 E. 17th St., has been drawing crowds nightly withits eclectic selection of live shows. Spearheaded by New York mascot Timothy“Speed” Levitch, the space will host an improv troupe and a “post-Hasidic”folk singer tonight, followed by a Grateful Dead cover band tomorrow. Thisweek, Lot47’s Mark Lipsky has been spotted sitting in the window of thelocation, watching movies and hoping to break the record for “LongestMovie-Watching Marathon.” On Monday, the company will begin free noonscreenings of “L.I.E.” McBeth’s is scheduled to remain open throughFebruary, if not longer. [Eugene Hernandez]